The Rush to Join an Expanding Club
Once a tidy acronym for four major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China), BRIC became BRICS with South Africa's inclusion in 2010. For over a decade, the club remained exclusive. That changed dramatically with the 2024 expansion, which brought
in Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia followed in 2025, and Saudi Arabia is also considered a member, bringing the total to eleven. Now, a diverse list of nations, including Turkey, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Venezuela, are lining up, hoping to join. This surge in interest reflects a desire among Global South countries for alternatives to Western-dominated institutions like the World Bank and IMF, and to access new streams of trade and investment.
Expansion vs. Consolidation: The Great Divide
The central conflict within BRICS is not whether to expand, but how fast and with what purpose. On one side are China and Russia, who are championing a rapid, large-scale expansion. Their goal is to build a formidable political bloc that can act as a direct counterweight to the US-led G7 and challenge Western dominance. On the other side are India and Brazil, who advocate for a more cautious, gradual, and criteria-based approach. They fear that a rapid, politically-motivated expansion could dilute the group's original focus on economic development, compromise its decision-making, and turn it into a purely anti-Western forum.
China’s Vision: A Bigger, Bolder Bloc
For China, a larger BRICS is a strategic win. President Xi Jinping has been a vocal proponent of expansion, viewing it as a vehicle for China's geopolitical ambitions. A bigger bloc, in Beijing's view, amplifies the voice of the Global South and accelerates the shift towards a multipolar world order. It allows China to strengthen its ties with energy-rich nations in the Middle East and extend its influence across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. By bringing more countries into its orbit, China aims to create a sphere of influence that is less dependent on the US dollar and Western financial systems, a project that Russia strongly supports, especially in the face of Western sanctions.
India’s Stance: A Cautious Balancing Act
India, which holds the BRICS presidency in 2026, finds itself in a delicate position. While it supports making the bloc more representative of the Global South, it is wary of the group becoming a tool for Chinese foreign policy. New Delhi's primary concern is that a rushed expansion without clear criteria would make the bloc dominated by Beijing and its allies, undermining India's own influence. India has consistently pushed for BRICS to remain a "non-West" rather than an "anti-West" platform, focusing on economic cooperation and development. It wants to use BRICS to champion its own model of strategic autonomy—maintaining strong ties with Western partners like the Quad while also leading within Global South forums.
The Problem of No Rules
A key sticking point in the debate is the lack of formal, objective criteria for admitting new members. Decisions have so far been based on political consensus, which can be easily swayed. Should membership be based on economic size, regional influence, or political alignment? The current ad-hoc approach has led to an eclectic mix of members—democracies and autocracies, oil giants and developing economies—with vastly different, and sometimes conflicting, interests. For instance, the inclusion of both Iran and Saudi Arabia has brought long-standing regional rivalries directly into the group. Without clear guidelines, analysts warn that BRICS risks becoming incoherent and ineffective, a broad but weak forum unable to reach consensus on key issues.
